We were in KNP from 23 - 27 December. Late afternoon on the 25th there were dozens of cars heading towards Orpen Gate. During this time, a car passed us with a heavily intoxicated man, hanging out of his vehicle and shouting vile comments at fellow visitors.

Also, whilst in the Orpen camp shop a man bought large amounts of alcohol and not one staff member asked him for his overnight permit. After the man left another guest asked the staff if they ask all visitors who buy liquor if they are staying overnight in the park, the staff answered yes. Even though we saw that that was not the case.

We stayed at Orpen during the 2009 festive season and it was horrible. So compared to other years, the liquor ban has certainly helped.

Such is the human race, often it seems a pity that Noah... didn't miss the boat.Mark Twain

I witnessed Sanparks taking quick action against some of these offenders.

We visited the shop and deck at Lower Sabie during our December stay. There was a very loud group who walked around with beers in their hands. They were requested by a Sanparks shop employee to leave the area, they did, after some comments.We finished our shopping and went back to the carpark, and there they played very loud music and were still drinking at their cars. I took my four year old son to the loo and when we came back they were getting ready to leave. But even 14 years after I left the police I still had the habit of observing and processing my surroundings. They were carefully watched by three Sanparks personnel from different areas, and I saw a Sanparks vehicle leaving the camp at some speed. When I got inside the car I told my SO that something is up and that we will leave behind those to cars, because my gut feeling ....

The two cars left and we followed at some distance. They went through the gate and it seemed as if they want to turn left towards CB, but they suddenly turned right and then turned slowly left again. When we reached the T-junction we saw what was happening.......roadblocks on both sides manned by park rangers,police and SANDF members. We turned right towards Sunset Dam and I could see in my mirror that they stopped them and basically surrounded them. The members at the other roadblock also started to make there way there.

The manner how the situation was handled called for quick thinking and planning, because if these people were confronted on the deck it could have had a completely different outcome.

Well done Sanparks, SANDF and SAPS.

"If we could sell our experiences for what they cost us, we'd all be millionaires" - Abigail Van Buren